Show Notes Destination: Pyrenees France
How to avoid those pickpockets?
Answer:
My friend Nicole, originally from France, now in Brooklyn gave this advice.
Don’t stand next to the door on the subway or put your wallet in pants back pocket. There are teams that know how to work the subway car, so save your wallet and phone from pickpockets. Be aware and use a hidden wallet for your valuables.
Here are a three tips:
1. Stay away from the heavily tourist areas and surrounding streets. Usually there is more than one person. One distracts you, the other empties your pockets. Jostling on crowded buses and metro.
2. No dark empty streets, ok?
3. Keep your money out of sight. Don’t wear expensive jewelry or clothing that will attract them.
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/madrid/narratives/practical-information/directory/dangers-annoyances
Today’s destination: Pyrenees, France
The region between Spain and France may not be on everyone’s short travel list, but you may want to consider it for yours to get off the beaten path and away from the big crowds in the main cities of France.
Bagneres de Luchon is 50 km southwest of Saint Gaudens and 40 km south of Montrejeau(mo-tray-ju) , at the foot of the central Pyrenees. This is a no crossing point into Spain, although you can see it from here. These mountains split the Iberian Peninsula from the rest of Europe, rising higher than 11,000 feet.
The town is in a valley at the crossing of the L’One river from the west and the Pique River from the south. The railway station is the SNCF terminal station and also connects to Paris, with two stops. There is no train shuttle between Montrejeau and Luchon, so two changes are required.
https://www.thetrainline.com/en/train-times/paris-to-luchon
Many years ago, I took the overnight train from Paris to Luchon in a sleeper car. The train was so relaxing, I almost missed getting off the train and missing my stop. My host met me at the train station and brought me to the flat. That was really nice and just the beginning of some great hospitality in Luchon, at the foot of the Pyrenees Mountains.
The apartment was right off the main center of town, which was quaint and friendly.
I went to a spa and got hosed. It was inside of a cave that was hundreds of years old, and in one of the rooms, I got blasted from a hose, not too different from a garden hose, with really strong water which was refreshing and good for the muscles.
I went to a nice dinner and ate local food and drank local wines.
I also hiked her mountains and visited with some locals at their homes, where it was the French version of The Sound of Music.
I hope you get to see this mountain range in Europe, enjoy the national parks, ski resorts and lovely people who live here on both sides of the mountains.
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/france/bagneres-de-luchon/restaurants
https://www.france-voyage.com/tourism/bagneres-luchon-875.htm
https://www.france-voyage.com/travel-guide/pyrenees-territoire.htm
https://www.worldatlas.com/mountains/pyrenees-mountains.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicole_Peyrafitte
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagn%C3%A8res-de-Luchon
Today’s Mistake- update your credit cards
My mistake was using Uber with no credit card updated.
I scheduled my ride for the next morning. I got confirmation that it was all set up. No further instructions came, and I waited. I tried to book a second ride, and that’s where I discovered that my credit card was not up to date. It’s a good thing I wasn’t in a hurry. I finally got my ride.
Today’s Travel Advice-Reunite with a friend on your next trip.
If you have a friend you haven’t seen in a while, why not plan a trip to the city where they live and start your own journey. Then when you have some ideas of where you want to go, what you want to do, reach out to your friend and let them know you’ll be visiting and the details. Your friend may be able to meet you halfway, perhaps at a park or coffee shop. Don’t expect that this will be a long stop but welcome the rekindled friendship and smiles you will receive.
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